SPIEGEL ONLINE

10/22/2011 06:33 PM

Aid for the Allies

German Intelligence Service Knew Gadhafi's Location

The decision to opt out of NATO efforts to aid the Libyan revolution alienated Germany from it Western allies. But according to SPIEGEL information, the country was more involved in the conflict than previously thought. German intelligence agents reportedly helped find fugitive dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

Germany's foreign intelligence service, the BND, helped root out the location of deposed Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi last Thursday before his capture, security sources with knowledge of the developments told SPIEGEL.

Indeed, the fugitive former leader's exact whereabouts in his hometown of Sirte had been known for weeks by the BND ahead of his
capture and subsequent death on Oct. 20. Agents within the organization have a long tradition of cultivating sources in the Middle East, and managed to determine where the
fallen dictator had hidden himself from revolutionary forces, the sources said.

But no geodata that could have led to a targeted strike was shared, German security insiders told SPIEGEL. Still, it appears that NATO forces had a clear idea of Gadhafi's location. When he attempted to flee Sirte on Oct. 20, French fighter jets fired on his convoy of vehicles.

The BND's operations in the Libyan conflict would not be the first time the organization has been involved in a foreign war. They were also active during the Iraq War in 2003. Though then-Chancellor Gerhard Schröder had vehemently rejected playing an active role in the conflict, German agents nevertheless
delivered intelligence from Baghdad to United States officials.

In a similar turn of events, Germany chose to abstain from voting on a United Nations Security Council resolution on March 17 that called for the use of military force to protect Libyan civilians. It was an
unpopular decision among Germany's traditional Western allies, which raises the question of whether the BND's intelligence efforts to locate Gadhafi may have been undertaken to repair the political damage.

On the other hand, their involvement could also raise questions about whether the BND is partially responsible for Gadhafi's death.